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Sports

AP PHOTOS: Small Paraguayan soccer club in big time by beating region's Goliath, Boca Juniors

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    In this Oct. 18, 2014 photo, reserve soccer players from the Deportivo Capiata team prepare for a national league match against Cerro Porteno in Capiata, Paraguay. When Capiata, a soccer club formed six years ago in an Asuncion suburb, beat Boca 1-0 at its famed La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, it was a shocker for the ages. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz) (The Associated Press)

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    In this Oct. 18, 2014 photo, Deportivo Capiata player Arturo Aquino gels his hair after practice inside the team's dressing room where a small altar of the Virgin of Caacupe stands in Capiata, Paraguay. After Capiata defeated Argentina's Boca Juniors in a first leg of the Copa Sudamericana, the team must face the Argentine juggernaut again on Thursday, Oct. 23 for the second leg. The winner goes to the quarterfinals. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz) (The Associated Press)

CAPIATA, Paraguay – They don't get much smaller than Paraguay's Deportivo Capiata — or bigger than Argentina's legendary Boca Juniors.

So when Capiata, a soccer club formed six years ago in an Asuncion suburb with a stadium holding just 7,000 fans, beat Boca 1-0 at its famed La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, it was a shocker for the ages.

Unfortunately for Capiata, it was just the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana and the team must face the Argentine juggernaut again Thursday in the second leg, with the winner going to the quarterfinals of Latin America's No. 2 club tournament.

Highlighting the Paraguayan club's small-time status, the match will be played at Luqueno stadium, which holds 27,000, because Capiata's own stadium was deemed inadequate for such a big match.

Capiata goalkeeper Antonio Franco warned after beating Boca: "We still haven't won a thing."

"We got attention with a team with no international history beating Boca 1-0," Franco added. "But football is like that. Nobody should underestimate a small rival."

Capiata has a tiny fan base, and everything about the club is modest: its dressing room, workout room and stadium amenities. Interestingly, the club wears blue and yellow, the same colors as Boca Juniors.

What isn't modest has been its performance on the pitch, particularly against Boca.